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(From the article "ENCOUNTER WITH 'TI' OR 'KARATE' written by Master
Nagamine before his death)
On 15 July 1907, I was born in Tomari-son, Naha City, of my father, Shoho
and my mother Gozei. Though my physique was ather small, I was active and
aggressive as any other healthy boys in my preschool days. Completing the
compulsory education of primary school in March 1923, I entered Naha City-run
5-year Commercial School. However, when I was second-year student of the school,
I suffered from a gastro enteric disorder and given a medication for some time.
But, because of inefficacy of the medication, I had to resort to a diet, while
practicing Karate at the backyard of neighbor friend, Mr. Chojin Kuba. It was in
1926 and I was 17 years of age.
Though the hard work both at school and training of Karate, I succeeded in
recovering from illness, making me quite confident of good health. When I
reached the senior year, I had a chance to participate, as a leader of Karate
Club, in an annual martial arts of Kendo and Karate among various schools. In
those days, I began, earnestly, work out every night at the ground of Tomari
Primary School, under the guidance of old master, Mr. Kotatsu Iha.
Ankichi Arakaki
After graduation in March, 1928, I started a full-scale practice, becoming
the disciple of Mr. Taro Shimabokuro of Shuri City, who was senior of me by one
year. It was my daily task to cover 8 km road between Shuri and Naha on foot to
master the art of Karate. Thanks to the warmhearted encouragement of brother
Taro, a hope was aroused in me, was enamored with the charm of martial art, and
thus my appetite for Karate surpassed that of eating. Under the guidance of
another Sensei, Ankichi Arakaki, I made further progress in the skills of
Karate.
Recovery of health was complete then, I was 162 cm tall with marvelously
developed physique. In 1928, I was examined for conscription, and passed it as
class 'A' infantryman, and assigned to the 47th Infantry Division stationed in
Oita Prefecture, Japan. In April of the same year, I was dispatched to
skirmishes in Sainan, China, and in July next year, returned to Okinawa after an
honorable discharge from the military service. Thinking about my future
profession in which I may be able to utilize the skills of Karate, I decided it
was policeman. And, in 1931, I was appointed a policeman of Okinawa Prefecture.
The notion that I should scientifically study Okinawa Karate which, had never
been systematically analyzed in the past, and the wishes for cultivating and
training of body and mind could never get out of my mind.
Chotoku Kyan
During my first assignment days at Kadena Police Station, from December 1931
through August 1936, I was deeply influenced by direct guidance of most famous
Sensei, Mr. Chotoku Kyan who became my second teacher. In April 1936, I was sent
to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, as a trainee policeman, and, during
a six-month period I had a chance to receive some advice about peculiar Kumite
movements from then celebrated master of Karate, Mr. Choki Motobu in Hongo ward,
Tokyo. After returning to Okinawa, I continued to serve as a policeman of
Okinawa Prefectural Police force.
Choki Motobu
On the recommendation of Sensei, Chojun Miyagi, founder of a different
school called Goju-ryu, I was given a title of Renshi, in May 1940, from the
Great Japan Botoku (Respect for the martial arts) Association at the Butoku
Festival held in Kyoto, Japan. Realizing the existence of common essence between
Kendo and Karate, I began practicing Kendo in 1938. After assiduous efforts made
for some time, I was awarded a Sandan in Kendo in 1941, and had an opportunity
to participate in the policemen's martial arts contest among Kyukyu, Yamaguchi
and Okinawa blocs which took place in Nagasaki Prefecture. In December 1941, I
was dispatched, as a trainee, to Police University in Tokyo and, while I was
there, given a chance to demonstrate the police-Karateman's mysteries of Karate
before a large audience of policemen of the Metropolitan Police Special Guard
Division.
My duty as a chief of an Emergency Ration section of Naha Police Station
during the World War II days put me under very dangerous situation in the
fiercely fought battleground covering from Shuri to Shimajiri village in
southern part of the island. But, hearing the news that defending Japanese
Imperial Army Lieutenant General Ushijima committed suicide on June 22, 1945, I
realized the absurdity of continuing fighting, so, with three fellow policemen
in the same bunker surrendered to the U.S. Armed Forces.
While engaged in the transportation of casualties in Iraha village with
other POWs, I happened to find on the road a book entitled "Introduction to
Karate" by Sensei, Ginchin Funakoshi, by which I determined to lead a life of
Karateman and find a hope to struggle against adversities. July 6, the same
year, we the POWs were transferred from Iraha to Kocha, Ginoza village for the
cultivation of the farm, while leading a life of refugees.
In the following December, I was appointed acting marshal of Taira Police
Station and in May the next year, Awarded a position of marshal of Naha Police
Office and moved there.
In July 1947, I was allocated a standardized house in Makishi ward, Naha
City, and after settling down for a while, a temporary dojo was opened with the
addition of wings to housing. The dojo was named Matsubayashi-ryu Kododan Karate
and Ancient Martial Arts Study, where I began practicing and teaching Karate to
youngsters. During the war, Okinawa was a scene of carnage between the U.S. and
Japanese forces, eradicating distinctive culture, greenery of landscape, kind
and admirable characteristics of people, and an often referred to as 'the Land
of Courtesy' became the thing of the past. Young people lost their spiritual
guidance and fell into decadence, public morals corrupt, moral decline caused an
increase in the number of serious crimes.
A matter requiring immediate attention in such a situation was to implant in
the minds of youngsters an indomitable spirit. Though I felt keenly the
necessity of building an independent dojo where I may be able to mingle with the
young, practicing together and sweating together, but its realization was a
remote possibility where there was nothing but everything was reduced to ashes.
In the meantime, I was promoted to superintendent and chief of police at
Motobu District Police Station in January, 1951, and was busy preparing for the
All Ryukyu Judo Contest scheduled for October, gathering all the young but
white-belt policemen. Main purpose in the training was to make progress in judo
skills, but they were to work out in Karate also. It was a very sad incident,
however, when a policeman, Siezen Ishikawa, was accidentally killed during
practice. I still feel bitter remorse about the mishap. Participants in the
contest were from such a large police stations as Maehara, Koza, Shuri and Naha,
all of these some 200-strong organizations, while our Motubu team had only 60
men, out of which 8 white belts took part in the competition.
Nonetheless, our team won the victory, beating all the 13 participating
stations. It was really a fruitful effort after so much workouts and training.
Our hard was finally paid off when all the members of our team, including me,
were promoted to black belts. When I decided to quit after serving as
superintendent for a year, however, fellow policemen begged me to stay in my
position. But, my strong determination to follow a Karateman's life tore myself
from my policemen-friends with a bleeding heart. In January 1953, I managed to
build a long-cherished and full-scale Karate dojo for the first time in Naha and
restarted, hanging a shingle as "Matsubayashi-ryu Karate Kodokan". In the
following December, I ran for election to the Naha City municipal assemblymen
and served for three terms and recommended for vice chairman. I resigned the
post in 1957. After that I had my dark days following the failure in business
twice, but even at the nadir of my fortune, continued the practice of Karate.
From time to time, I had vague feeling of anxiety in tackling with Karate and my
way of living. Just then, I had a chance to read Book of Five Wheels written by
Miyamoto Musashi, in 1963, and was much moved. Already I had read through a book
titled "Teshhukoji-no-shinmenboku" (Buddhist layman and master
swordman,
Teshhu's true self). Luckily I was given a hint in going ahead of my way as a
Karateman through the reading. The two were unrivaled swordmen in all ages, had
common in intelligence, bravery and physical power, embraced the Buddhist faith
so as to have an unbending spirit, practiced Zen meditation for art of war, and
devoted whole heart to the spiritual problems. These pioneers of martial arts
opened my eyes to re-orient my physically bent Karate to the togetherness of
Fists and Zen. So I was resolved to adopt Zen meditation as part of Karate
practice ever since.
Nagamine Sensei and Zen
As famous Zen Buddhist, Dogen once said, "Accomplish what you cherish in
your mind", I became, by a happy chance, disciple of Zen priest, Sogen Sakiyama
of Enkakuji in October and began Zen meditation course within the dojo. As the
priest went to the U.S. for preaching, I begged teachings from Keisho Okamoto,
another priest of Rengein of Itoman, and furthermore from Shuzen Kise, priest of
Jushoin of Chatan for Zen practice.
Four classes of Karate are held daily in my dojo, during each class, a
15-minute Zazen (Zen meditation) is given for the strengthening of minds and
instilling philosophy of meaningless of surprise attack and, not the defense but
true sense of victory without fighting. Under the conviction that togetherness
of Zen and Karate is the one and only way to master the real way of Karate, and
hoping that many a young Karate experts be nurtured, I am enjoying Karateman's
life, with the spirit of wholeheartedness
Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine Died in 1997.
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